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www.actorsco-op.org • (323) 462-8460 www.actorsco-op.org • (323) 462-8460 www.actorsco-op.org • (323) 462-8460 A WELCOME FROM OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE A merry heart doeth good like medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22 Welcome, friends, to The Mystery of Irma Vep, A Penny Dreadful. Here, for your approval, we bring to the Crossley Theatre the dramatic artistry of eight performers. Huh? What’s that? Only two of them WHAT IS ACTORS CO-OP? showed up today? Oh. Ladies and gentlemen, for your approval, we bring to the Crossley Our history . Actors Co-op began on January 8, 1987, when a Theatre the dramatic artistry of two performers. But they’re really good dozen veteran actors gathered on the grounds of the First Presbyterian ones, especially if they can pull off the portrayal of all eight characters. Church of Hollywood to create a place for professional, personal and spiritual support. It is the first Christian-based professional theatre No, this is just what playwright Charles Ludlam intended: a story that company in the United States. The Crossley Theatre opened in April of wants to scare the bejabbers out of you or fracture you with laughter. 1989 and the David Schall Theatre (previously named Crossley Terrace Either way, split sides may ensue as we discover two actors in about three Theatre) in March of 1995. dozen costumes pondering the passing of Irma Vep whose name spelled differently is vampire. Actors Co-op has a membership of more than fifty actors and associ- ate artists, and is dedicated to Christ and excellence in theatre. Actors We’re so glad you’re here for the first production of the 28th season of Co-op has received more than 100 awards, including the Hollywood Actors Co-op. 28 years! That’s an accomplishment in and of itself, but Arts Council’s Charlie Award for Excellence in Theatre Arts and the our greatest joy is having you in the audience, whether this is your first Margaret Harford Award for Sustained Achievement from the Los Co-op experience, or whether you’re one of our many loyal patrons Angeles Drama Critics Circle. who’ve filled our hearts with your attendance over the years. And we thank you for that! Our mission . Actors Co-op is a company of Christian actors driven Ask our House Manager for a season brochure, and check out what’s by passion for the Lord Jesus Christ. We are dedicated to pursuing ahead; we love to sign you up the for the season! We’ll also apply the the highest standards of theatrical excellence and to building up our price of today’s show to your season subscription. It’s a great deal. members spiritually, personally and professionally in order to be an outreach of Christ’s hope. Again, welcome! We are immensely grateful to you for making Actors Co-op YOUR theatre company. Sincerely, Actors Co-op Executive Committee Eva Abramian, Lori Berg, Gary Clemmer, Mac Heald, Vito Viscuso www.actorsco-op.org • (323) 462-8460 www.actorsco-op.org • (323) 462-8460 the award-winning presents ACTORS CO-OP STORY: GUEST ARTISTS WE INTERVIEWED THE STARS OF IRMA VEP AND WANTED TO SHARE THEIR CO-OP STORY AS SOME OF OUR FAVORITE GUEST ARTISTS! Q. HOW MANY SHOWS/WHAT SHOWS to that character. It would stay on for a minute or HAVE YOU WORKED ON AT ACTORS two and then one side would slowly begin to wilt CO-OP? off my face. Every head turn would cause it to slide more and as a result, that mustache became Issac: The Mystery of Irma Vep is the fifth show more of the character than I did! I’ve appeared in with the Actors Co-op. Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde was the first show I worked John: Any favorite memories of mine would with on followed by The Mystery of Edwin Drood, have to start with performing alongside Bruce (in alphabetical order) Around the World in 80 Days, and The Turn of Ladd. Once as his nemesis and once as his JOHN ALLEE*, ISAAC WADE the Screw. amanuensis. Greg Martin was the best audience a fellow cast member could want. And the best John: Irma Vep is my fourth show with the scene partner I never had was Treva Tegtmeier Scenic Designer Lighting Designer Costume, Hair & Makeup Designer (we were in 2 productions together and our Co-op! I’ve done mostly plays with “man” in JESSA ORR MARTHA CARTER VICKI CONRAD the title - The Man Who Came to Dinner, Man characters never spoke a word to one another). for All Seasons, or written by a Kauf-”man” - 33 Also, I got to watch Nan McNamara fall apart in Variations, The Man Who Came to Dinner. There 33 Variations every night from the wings, and I’ll Scenic Designer Dialect Coach Property Designer may or may not be a wolf-man in Irma Vep, so be damned if I didn’t cry every time. GREG MCGOON JACK WALLACE LORI BERG maybe I’ll keep my streak going. Q: WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE CO-OP THAT Q. ANY FAVORITE MEMORIES/ YOU APPRECIATE OR FIND DIFFERENT Sound Designer Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager MOMENTS/FUNNY STORIES YOU HAVE ABOUT WORKING WITH US? WHAT DAVID B. MARLING ERIC M. WHITE MIA COTTON ABOUT WORKING WITH US? DOES WORKING FOR THE CO-OP MEAN TO YOU? Assistant Stage Manager Isaac: I think one of the most interesting things EMBER EVERTT is that all five shows I’ve worked on with the Isaac: The thing I most appreciate about Actors Co-op is that each one has required the Actors Co-op is that everyone I’ve ever us all to play multiple characters and each worked with....actors, directors, stage managers, show has been increasingly more challenging producers, designers....every single person I’ve in that regard either in terms of the number of ever worked with here has been so incredibly characters or the physical demands of the play. supportive. The sense of unity and of banding OCTOBER 4 - NOVEMBER 10, 2019 In terms of those demands one of the funniest together to accomplish the same goal is so deep or most ridiculous for me was the fake mustache in the bloodstream at the Co-op and it makes I had to contend with in Around the World in every single rehearsal and performance not just PRODUCTION SPONSOR 80 Days. I always preemptively apologize to an enjoyable experience but a joy to be a part of. Gerrie Maloof & Anonymous all costume designers because in a particularly I am so grateful for every experience I’ve had physical show (much like this one!) I sweat here! profusely! And during Around the World in 80 *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Days I had to wear a giant Hercule Poirot-esque John: I appreciate the artistic integrity, the mustache for one of the characters, but had to community spirit, the support, the sense of remove it to play another one. It was attached coming together to build something that’s bigger with spirit gum, but unfortunately, my face than any one of us. Also, the parking. Great Actors Co-op is a member of LA Stage Alliance. parking. was so wet from the profuse sweating that in it The Mystery of Irma Vep - A Penny Dreadful” is presented by special arrangement wouldn’t stay on my face when I switched back with Samuel French, Inc., a Concord Theatricals www.actorsco-op.org • (323) 462-8460 WHO’S WHO? FROM THE DIRECTOR... The Mystery of Irma Vep is a comedic play that was written and performed by the playwright Charles Ludlam in 1984...Not quite right. Starting over. The Mystery of Irma Vep is a farce that was written and performed by the comedically (comically?) playful playwright Charles Ludlam in 1984. Not the novel 1984 by George Orwell but the year 1984 by the calendar Gregorian. Let’s try this again! Charles Ludlam, a playful playwright, wrote and performed this ridiculous romp, The Mystery of Irma Vep in no matter the year, the year of written-ness is moot. This play takes place in Victorian England. Not 1984. Not 2019. Irma Vep takes place in Victorian England, written in John Allee* Isaac Wade 1984, performed by us in 2019. Irma Vep is vampire anagrammatized. CAST (in alphabetical order) If you are exhausted by the above just imagine how dizzy our actors and production JOHN ALLEE* ...........................................................................................Lord Edgar/Jane Twisden/Intruder team have been feeling over the past few weeks of rehearsals. I think the hardest thing ISAAC WADE ................................................................................. Lady Enid/Nicodemus/Alcazar/Pev Amri about directing farce is staying ahead of the audience. You thought we were going left but now we’re going right! Also hard to make sure the actors don’t hurt their knees and LOCATION elbows when going left AND right. All actors The action of the play takes place in the Library drawing room of “Mandacrest” should wear protective gear at all times to cover the Hillcrest Estate near Hampstead Heath in England, all their joints. Our actors are doing it. You just between the wars; and various places in Egypt. won’t see it cause they probably aren’t actually. ACT I - Mandacrest, on the Moors We hope to do Charles Ludlam and his play 10 minute intermission proud. He once wrote in his Ridiculous Theatre Company’s Manifesto, “This is farce, not Sunday ACT II - Various places in Egypt School.” Please keep this in mind as you watch ACT III- Mandacrest our campy celebration of B Horror films of the 30’s, Hitchcock’s Rebecca, Wuthering Heights and more! The devil’s in the details.